Truck-bolster.



-PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904:l

W. H. SCOTT.

TRUCK BOLSTER.

APPLICATION FILI-3D MAR.`19. 1904.

No no DBL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM H. SCOTT, OF ST. LOUIS,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO PORATION OF ILLINOIS.-

TRUGK-'BOLSTER SPECIFICATION formingpartof Letters Patent No. 762,443,datedlune 14, 1904.

Application tied March 19, 1904.

make and use the same, reference. being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, In which- Figure 1 is aview, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a bolsterconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view partly inplan and partlyin section. Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is across-sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig.5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is afragmentary central longitudinal view of a slightly-modified form of theinvention, and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of a slightlyniodiiied formof compression member.

This invention relates to truck-bolsters; and one of the objects thereofis to provide a bolster structurethe parts of which can be easilyassembled and which will provide a maximum strength with a minimum'weight.

Vith these and other objects in View the invention consists of certainnovel parts and combinations of parts, to be referred to hereinafter,the novel features being particularly defined in the claims.

The compression member of the bolster is illustrated as comprising aplurality of I- beams 1, connected by a fiat plate tension member 2, theends of which are bent up to pass over the ends of the compressionmember, and these members are spaced apart and braced by a strut orking-post 3. In the form of bolster illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and5 there are but two I-beams employed, which I-beams are provided withterminallydisposed.longitudinal slits 4, which are formed by removingportions 'of the webs of the I-beams, so that the adjacent edges of theslits can be brought together to restrict the ends semi No. 193.912. Nomodel.)

of the I-beams, so that their lower edges 5 will converge toward theupper edges 6 of the I-beams and provide contacting portions adapted torest upon the upper faces of the tension member 2. In order that theedges of the slitted portions of the respective I-beams can be broughttogether by suitable pressure and in order to prevent further splittingwhen the parts are brought together, openings 7 are formed in theI'ianges, one at the end of each slit. By forcing the adjacent edges ofthe slits together, so as to give the proper inclination to the bottomflanges 5 of the I-beams, an extended bearing surface is provided, whichis received by a corresponding part of the tension member 2, the ends ofwhich are bent up over the respective ends of the I-beams and rest uponthe' top anges 6 thereof. In order to provide for the rigidity of thebolster, a filler-block 8 is interposed'between the ends of the I-beamsand the bend in the tension member, said filler-block having a portion 9interposed between the webs of the respective I-beams, which portion 9is provided with perforate lugs 10 for the reception of suitablefastening devices 11, which pass through the ends of the tension memberand through the filler-block, so that the filler-block can be securelyheld in place.

The strut or king-post is best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, in which itis shown as a casting having fianged seats 12 and 13 to receive thebottom anges of the I-beams, the top flanges of said I-beams beingengaged by the flanged center bearing-plate 14, which serves as a clampfor securing the I-beams to the strut. The bottom of the strut isprovided with a fianged seat 15, capable of straddling the Hat platetension member 2, and said strut is provided with the usual centralopening 16 for the reception of the king-bolt. The spacing portions 17and 18 are carriedA by the strut and materially assist in spacing theI-beams apart and in holding them rigid with relation to the remainingparts of the bolster.

The castings on the ends of the bolster are each designated by thereference-numeral 19,

and each consists of a casting having a lixed side bearing 20, forming apart thereof, and which bears upon the top edge or [iange of eachI-beam, the bottom edge of the casting resting upon and inclinedcoincidently with the flat plate tension member. At one end of eachcasting a seat 2l is formed to conform to the curvature of the bend. Inthe end of the iiat plate tension member 2 the castings are sccured tothe bolster by fastening devices, illustrated as bolts 22 and 23, whichpass through the casting and through the I-beams on the respective sidesof the slit 4. Each fastening device passes through spacingsleeves 24,which tend to hold the I-beams a suitable distance apart, said sleeves24 being assisted in this by the strut 3 and the portion 9 of theiiller-blocl 8. It will be observed that the side bearing 2O on eachcasting is formed as a part thereof and bears against the top iiange ofsaid compression member, the lower portion resting against the underside of the tension member 2, whereby a clamping effect is produced tohold the parts against independent movement.

Within the `spring-seat 25 is a wooden block 26, which is adapted tobear upon the supporting-springs for the bolster. f

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a slightly-modiiied form in whichsubstantially the same principle is involved, the difference being thatthe casting carrying the usual spring-seat and coln umn-guides iscapable of being slipped over the ends of the compression member andtension member, said casting'being provided with a shoulder Q7 to beengaged by the edge of the upturned end of the tension member, wherebythe casting will beheld in place and the fastening devices l1a serve thepurpose of securing the casting to the bolster and in securing thecompression member, the tension member, and the casting in rigidcontact.

In FiO. 7 the ends of the compression members are reduced by corrugatingthe ends of the I-beams, as at 28, vand thus obviating the necessity ofslitting the ends of the beams. This is a commercial form of I-beam andcan be easily substituted for the ones illustrated in Figs. l to 6without the employment of special machinery.

By utilizinga plurality of I-beams a much lighter and stronger structurecan be made than can be obtained by the use of the channel-iron usuallyemployed in bolsters of this type.

Although this bolster is of considerably less weight than thoseordinarily employed, its strength will be in no wise affected, as thepeculiarly novel arrangement of I-beams and iiat plate tension memberprovides an exceedingly strong and durable bolster, while requiring onlya minimum amount of metal.

I am aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my device can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, isA

1. A bolster comprising' an I-beam compresd sion member, a fiat platetension member bent over the ends of the compression member, and astrut; substantially as described.

2. A bolster having a compression member comprising a plurality oflll-beams, a fiat plate tension member bent over the ends of therespective I-beams, and a strut; substantially as described. l

3. A bolster comprising a compression member having tapered ends, and aflat plate tension member bearing against the under side of thecompression member and bent over the ends to engage the top thereof;substantially as described.

A. Abolster comprising an I-beam compression member having tapered ends,and a fiat plate tension member bearing against the under side of thecompression member and bent over the ends to engage the top thereof;substantially as described.

5. A bolster comprising a compression member having longitudinal slitsin its ends with the adjacent edges of the slits bearing one upon theother, a tension member engaging the respective ends of the compressionmember, and a strut; substantially as described.

6. A bolster having a compression member with top and bottom flangescoextensive with its length and having tapered ends, a tension memberlying flat against the lower tapered edge of each end of the compressionmember and engaging the upper edge of each tapered end; substantially asdescribed.

7. A bolster com prising a strut having' seats, compression-memberI-beams in the seats, and a tension member spaced from the compressionmember by the strut and engaging the ends of the I-beams; substantiallyas described.

8. A bolster comprising a strut having' seats, compression-memberI-beams in the intermediate seats on each side thereof, and a tensionmember spaced from the compression member by the strut and engaging theends of the I-beams; substantially as described.

9. A bolster comprising a strut having flanged seats, compression-memberI-beams in the fianged seats, and a tension member spaced from thecompression member by the strut and engaging the ends of the I-beams;substantially as described.

l0. A bolster comprising a strut having seats and spacing portions ofthe strut providing oppositely-disposed bearings against the webs of theI-beam; substantially as described.

11. A bolster comprising a terminally-en gag'ed compression member andtension mem- IOO IIO

tion bearing upon the nether face of the tenA sion member, and an upperportion bearing against the upper face of the Compression member;substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alx my' signature, in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 13th day of February,- 1904.

WILLIAM H. SCOTT;

Witnesses:

JACOB H. WEIsBRoD, GEORGE BAKEWELL.

